A summer monsoon interrupted our visit to Patagonia, Arizona, but once the storm passed, the Paton Center came alive with hummingbirds and one of the Southwest's most welcoming birding destinations.

A visit to Madera Canyon during Arizona's monsoon season brought eight hummingbird species, a surprise Botteri's Sparrow, and one unforgettable morning in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Mallard Lake in Creve Coeur Park is one of my favorite birding spots near St. Louis. From Purple Martins and Indigo Buntings to soaring raptors, every visit offers something new to discover along its peaceful lakeside trails.

Riverlands Migratory Bird Refuge is one of Missouri's premier birding destinations, offering wetlands, forests, and prairies along the Mississippi Flyway. From winter swans to summer songbirds, every season brings something new to discover.

After years of birding across California, Missouri, Germany, and Hawaii, the Kowa BDII-XD 10x42 binoculars have become one of my most trusted pieces of gear. Here's why I still recommend them for birding today.

Western Snowy Plovers may be tiny, but they're some of California's most remarkable beach birds. Learn about their fascinating behavior, adorable chicks, and why protecting their nesting habitat is so important.

California Least Terns may be North America's smallest tern, but they fill Southern California's beaches with energy each summer. Learn about their fascinating behavior, conservation, and why volunteering to protect them has become one of my favorite experiences.

A rough crossing and towering swells made this Farallon Islands pelagic trip unforgettable. From thousands of nesting seabirds to Black-footed Albatrosses and breaching Humpback Whales, it became one of my most memorable days birding offshore.

Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach offer some of the best coastal birding in Southern California. From Brown Pelicans and shorebirds to the occasional Snowy Plover, every visit brings new wildlife, beautiful scenery, and plenty of reasons to keep coming back.

A spring camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park turned into one of my favorite days of desert birding, with Gambel's Quail, Verdins, Phainopeplas, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Costa's Hummingbirds, and plenty of other memorable wildlife encounters.

A spring pelagic trip out of Dana Point brought storm-petrels, Red-necked Phalaropes, a Brown Booby, migrating warblers resting aboard the boat, and thousands of By-the-wind Sailors drifting across calm Southern California waters.

I had settled onto the beach with a book when a Gray Whale appeared just beyond the sand. For nearly half an hour, it rolled through the shallow water close enough for us to see its eye.